Waukesha BluesFest happens this weekend

Waukesha BluesFest, “An American Music and Art Festival, presented by the Waukesha Rotary Club, has lined up another exciting bill to kick off the second decade of the popular festival this summer. The dates are Friday and Saturday, August 11 and 12 and the festival is held at Naga-Waukee Park in Delafield, located 1/2 mile north of I-94 on Highway 83. Gates open at 12:30 PM both days with the music entertainment from 1:00 PM until 10:00 PM. The 11th Annual Waukesha BluesFest entertainment line-up is a diverse and exciting one:

FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 2017

CHARLIE MUSSELWHITE

Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials

Blues Harp Jimmie Band

Starkweather Bay Blues Band

The B-Side Band

ROCKONSIN 2017 Band Competition Finalist – Something Ironic

SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 2017

ANA POPOVIC

The Kinsey Report

Paul Nelson Band

Altered Five Blues Band

Ol’ Style Skratch

Steve Cohen & Little Maddie

The entertainment at this year’s Waukesha BluesFest features the classic sound of Chicago blues on Friday night, August 11th with legendary blues harp player Charlie Musselwhite. Fifty years of nonstop touring, performing and recording have reaped huge rewards and Charlie is living proof that great music only gets better with age. This man cut his (musical) teeth alongside Muddy Waters, Howling Wolf and everyone on the south side of Chicago in the early 1960’s. On Saturday, August 12th, the blazing guitar stylings of Serbian-born Ana Popovic will thrill the audience as she graces the stage in her first Waukesha BluesFest appearance. Ana just completed a highly acclaimed tour performing as a featured part of the ‘All-Star’ Experience Hendrix 2017 line-up and has been with the tour from 2014 through 2017. (Promo photos and bios for the headliners are available on the Waukesha BluesFest website Home page at: www.waukeshabluesfest.com.)

Friday’s lineup includes Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials with their big sound, fueled by Lil’ Ed’s gloriously rollicking slide work and deep-blues string bending, along with his rough-edged, soulful vocals.  This is as real and hard-hitting as Chicago blues gets.  Saturday’s line-up brings The Kinsey Report, Gary, Indiana’s first family of the blues, to Waukesha BluesFest. The Kinseys enjoyed enormous success throughout the 80’s and 90’s recording and touring with their late father, Lester “Big Daddy” Kinsey.  In addition, on Saturday don’t miss the Paul Nelson Band featuring multi-Grammy nominated artist Paul Nelson who was not only guitarist to legendary rock/blues icon Johnny Winter for over 10 years, but is recognized in his own right as one of today’s premier guitarists, now leading his own band.

In addition to the great line-up of live music, Waukesha BluesFest features an exceptional selection of food from popular local restaurants Delafield Brewhaus and Café Esperanza, Koepsell’s Popcorn, a full selection of beverages and an Art Show featuring regional and locally known artists.

Advance tickets prices through August 10 are $22 for one-day tickets and $35 for two-day tickets. Prices at the gate will be $25 for a one-day ticket and $40 for a two-day ticket. Parking and sales tax are included in the ticket prices. Children age 8 and under are free with a paying adult. Tickets are available on-line at www.waukeshabluesfest.com. Tickets are also be available in person through August 10th at Almont Gallery in downtown Waukesha, all Waukesha State Bank locations and all White House of Music locations, and at the gate during the festival.

Waukesha BluesFest is again offering an “Elite Experience” seating option which will provide true music fans a front and center reserved seat.  These reserved seats are numbered and issued on a first come basis as purchased separately for each day.  The Elite Experience tickets also include admission to the grounds, parking, sales tax, two complimentary beverages and a souvenir festival art poster which can be obtained at the Merchandise Tent. A limited number of Elite Experience tickets will be available for the price of $55 each day.

Major sponsors of Waukesha BluesFest include Clear Channel Outdoor, ProHealth Care, Therm-Tech of Waukesha, Inc., the Waukesha Rotary Club, and many other supporters.

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